Electric lamp and discharge devices – With gas or vapor – Having electrode exterior to envelope
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-11
2001-09-25
Patel, Ashok (Department: 2879)
Electric lamp and discharge devices
With gas or vapor
Having electrode exterior to envelope
C313S035000, C313S046000, C313S234000, C313S292000, C313S238000, C313S594000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06294869
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a high intensity light irradiation apparatus using a dielectric barrier electrical discharge lamp for emitting high power of ultraviolet, more specifically to a simpler, lighter, and easy to assemble and replace support member for such high intensity light irradiation apparatus.
Dielectric barrier electrical discharge lamps find wide applications including curing ultraviolet curing resin in fabrication of semiconductor devices and liquid crystal display devices, purifying exhausted gases, and ultraviolet light sources for synthesizing chemical compounds.
A cross section view of a conventional high intensity light irradiation apparatus is illustrated in FIG.
3
and such conventional high intensity light irradiation apparatus comprises a ultraviolet transparent dielectric outer tube
11
and a dielectric inner tube
12
made from quartz glass or sapphire disposed concentrically with each other, a dielectric barrier electrical discharge lamp
1
having an electrical discharge space
14
filled with inert (or rare) gas such as argon, krypton, xenon, etc. Further comprising are a light transparent outer electrode
21
(e.g., mesh electrode, NESA coat, etc.) disposed on the surface of the dielectric outer tube
11
, an inner electrode
22
disposed in a spiral manner on the surface of the dielectric inner tube
12
and an AC power source (not shown) for applying AC voltage between the outer electrode
21
and the inner electrode
22
. High intensity ultraviolet is generated by plasma discharge in the electrical discharge space
14
by way of the layers of the dielectric tubes
11
,
12
.
In such conventional high intensity light irradiation apparatus using dielectric barrier electrical discharge lamp
1
requires circulation of cooling water in the dielectric tube
12
for cooling the electrical discharge lamp
1
. In addition to the cooling means, the electrical discharge lamp
1
requires a support member
9
for supporting the electrical discharge lamp
1
including the light transparent outer electrode
21
and the inner electrode
22
.
Such support member
9
comprises an elongate rod member
91
longer than the electrical discharge lamp
1
to be supported, a pair of protrusions
92
raising from the both ends of the rod member
91
and each having a threaded hole
93
in parallel with the rod member
91
, bushing members
94
screwed in the respective threaded holes
93
, and sliding members
95
inserted into center holes of the bushing members
94
each provided with a flange
97
and an extending hole
96
for passing the cooling water therethrough.
For supporting the electrical discharge lamp
1
by the support member
9
, the bushing members
94
are screwed from outside of the both protrusion members
94
to their half way and the sliding members
95
are slid into the center holes of respective bushing members
94
. Both ends of the electrical discharge lamp
1
are clamped by the sliding members
95
by way of sealing gaskets
5
disposed in the respective flanges
97
of the both sliding members
95
. Further screwing the bushing members
94
toward to each other, the sliding members
95
are pushed inwardly at their flanges
97
, thereby reducing the distance between opposed sliding members
95
to apply desired clamping pressure onto the electrical discharge lamp
1
. Finally, hoses for circulating the cooling water through the extending holes
96
are coupled to the inlet/outlet couplers
98
of the sliding members
95
and an AC power is connected between the outer electrode
21
and the inner electrode
22
of the electrical discharge lamp
1
.
Now, the support member
9
for supporting the electrical discharge lamp
1
tends to become large and heavy because the support member
9
must provide sufficient mechanical strength so that the electrical discharge lamp
1
does not deform in operation.
When installing such electrical discharge lamp
1
supported by the large and heavy support member
9
onto an application machine, there are some restrictions in the design freedom of such application machine due to not only the size and weight but also replacement of the electrical discharge lamp
1
at the end of its lifetime. Accordingly, there is a strong need for providing a high intensity light irradiation apparatus using a simpler, lighter and easy to assemble and replace support member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, the high intensity light irradiation apparatus utilizes a simpler, lighter support member and features ease in assembling and replacing the electrical discharge lamp.
The high intensity light irradiation apparatus includes a dielectric barrier electrical discharge lamp
1
having an electrical discharge space
14
filled with an inert gas and surrounded by concentrically disposed light transparent dielectric outer tube
11
, a dielectric inner tube
12
and end walls
13
at the both ends; a light transparent outer electrode
21
disposed on the surface of the light transparent dielectric outer tube
11
and an inner electrode
22
disposed on the surface of the dielectric outer tube
12
; and an AC power source for applying an AC voltage between the outer electrode
21
and the inner electrode
22
. The high intensity light irradiation apparatus features in further comprising a metal rod
3
having a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the dielectric inner tube
12
and to be inserted into the dielectric inner tube
12
of the dielectric barrier electrical discharge lamp
1
, and clamp members
4
for sealing both end portions of the dielectric barrier discharge lamp
1
and each having a hole through which the metal rod
3
passes, where in the metal rod
3
holds the clamp members
4
that clamps the dielectric barrier electrical discharge lamp at the both ends.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5432398 (1995-07-01), Kogelschatz
patent: 5757132 (1998-05-01), Matsuno et al.
patent: 5929564 (1999-07-01), Nakaya et al.
patent: 6-338302 (1994-06-01), None
Adachi Nobuo
Okugi Yasuhiko
Dellett and Walters
ORC Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Patel Ashok
LandOfFree
High intensity light irradiation apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with High intensity light irradiation apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and High intensity light irradiation apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2520820